Changed plans for 500 homes on Derby’s former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site – which involve saving two much-loved “pepper pot” buildings – are set to go ahead.

Derby City Council’s planning director has recommended an outline planning application for the £40 million development – called Nightingale Quarter – be given the green light.

Councillors will determine the application on Thursday. If given the thumbs up, detailed plans for the scheme will be drawn up by Nightingale Quarter Estates, part of London-based developer First Urban.

The development – which would include shops, restaurants, offices and a public park – was first considered by the council’s planning control committee in July.

But Nightingale Quarter Estates had submitted an application that involved bulldozing one of the two 19th century “pepper pot” buildings on the land.

Those buildings are the only remnants of the former infirmary, which closed in 2009. The council's planning committee voiced support for the scheme in general, but requested the plans be tweaked so both pepper pots would be kept.

New plans show both 'pepper-pot' buildings on the former DRI site being incorporated into the 500-home Nightingale Quarter scheme

A public petition also calling for the pepper pots to be retained has now been signed by more than 3,900 people.

A fresh plan which incorporates both pepper pot structures was submitted by Nightingale Quarter Estates in August.

The new plans – referred to as Scheme 2 – show an access road diverting sharply around the southern structure, instead of through it.

To support the re-use of the two buildings, Nightingale Quarter Estates is seeking permission to extend both buildings at the back.

The developer has not withdrawn its initial plans and the planning committee will consider both the original application and the amended version on Thursday.

An artist's impression of how the Nightingale Quarter development will look

The council’s planning director, David Gartside, has recommended either scheme be approved but, given the planning committee's issues with the original plan it's likely only the tweaked version would be given the go-ahead.

In a report for the committee, Mr Gartside wrote: “The second ‘pepper pot’ would be brought back into use for either commercial or residential uses, similarly to the other ‘pepper pot’ building, which is proposed for the same mix of potential land uses and for community use.

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“The retention of the heritage assets on the site is welcomed in principle, including the Grade II listed buildings and features on the site, through the proposed renovation and re-use of Wilderslowe House, the three properties at 123- 129a Osmaston Road within the Hartington Street Conservation Area and the locally listed ‘pepper pot’ buildings."

A bird's eye view of the site

Nightingale Quarter Estates has also agreed to fund a new primary school and part-fund a secondary school as part of the proposed Section 106 agreement.

Thursday’s planning meeting will be held at the Council House, starting at 6pm. Members of the public can attend.